International Conference for Health Professionals

The 1st ICHP 2025 concluded with a closing ceremony.

Prof. Myra D. Oruga, PhD, ICHP Program Committee Chair, wrapped up the event with a thoughtfully articulated synthesis that highlighted the key insights and emerging themes from the conference sessions. She emphasized how ICHP 2025 underscored that community empowerment is essential to long-term resilience and how it showcased the value of international and institutional partnerships in strengthening global health. The conference provided a clear roadmap for advancing health education, research, and workforce development.

An awarding ceremony followed to recognize exemplary contributions presented during the conference, including the Best Poster, Best Paper, and Best Oral Presentation. The Best Poster Award was awarded to Dr. Javeson Roy Batuto for his poster entitled “Developing a Patient-Centered Core Framework in a Medical Tourism Facility Using the SERVQUAL Model.”

The Best Paper Award was presented to the team of Dr. Nichel Marquez, Dr. Julius Lecciones, John Ubalde, RN, and Ms. Evelyn Joson for the study “Performance of CAD-AI and Human Reading in Chest X-Ray Screening for Tuberculosis: Evidence from Urban Active Case FInsing in Metro Manila, Philippines.”

The Best Oral Presentation Award was given to Ms. Sheena Kate Da-o for her study “Unraveling the Unheard Stories of Nurses on Extended Shifts.”

Assoc. Prof. Rita Ramos, PhD, Overall Chair of ICHP 2025, delivered the closing remarks, highlighting the historic nature of the gathering, marking the birth of ICHP, and extended heartfelt gratitude to all who made the conference possible. She underscored that healthcare is both local and global, reminding participants of their shared mission across borders. Assoc. Prof. Ramos acknowledged the contributions of the participants, committee members, leaders, and presenters, and expressed deep appreciation for the entire ICHP team and the organizing universities whose collective efforts brought the conference to life.

A teaser unveiled the next ICHP, set for July 2027 and will be proudly hosted by Universitas Padjadjaran in Indonesia.

Day 2 at ICHP 2025!

The second day of ICHP 2025 was filled with dynamic activities, including keynote addresses, panel presentations, PechaKucha sessions, poster presentations, and engaging parallel sessions focused on innovation and sustainability in global health.

Professor Emeritus Prasit Watanapa, M.D. of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University of Thailand, delivered the second keynote address on Digital Health, Green Systems, and Community-Centered Approaches for Resilient and Equitable Healthcare, offering an insightful overview of Health Innovations and Sustainable Practices.

Parallel sessions continued throughout the day, covering key themes such as sustainable health practices for future generations, advancing healthcare through innovative and sustainable approaches, building resilient health systems in a changing world, and promoting diversity and collaboration across health sectors.

Panel Discussion 3 also took place, focusing on Digital Technology to Enhance Innovative and Sustainable Health Practices, and underscoring the crucial role of digital solutions in shaping the future of healthcare.

ICHP 2025 – Day 1 Afternoon Highlights

The afternoon session featured a dynamic lineup of parallel sessions and panel discussions that deepened the conversation on global health.

Panel Discussion 1 focused on “Bringing Health Practices Home: Sustainable Care at a Community Level,” exploring practical approaches to strengthening community-based health initiatives. Panel Discussion 2 centered on “Global Health Workforce Innovations,” highlighting emerging strategies to support and advance the global health workforce.

Parallel Sessions 1–4 also ran throughout the afternoon, covering key subthemes such as ODeL for Global Health Equity: The Open University Advantage, Diversity and Collaboration in Health Systems, Equity in Health Across Global Settings, and Resilient Health Practices in a Changing World.

Open forums provided a space for meaningful exchange, and the poster presentation showcased innovative research from participants.

A productive and enriching afternoon at ICHP 2025!

Stay tuned for the 2nd day of the ICHP 2025 for richer exchange of insights!

Launching of the ICHP Poster Gallery

As part of the first day of the conference, the ICHP Poster Gallery was officially unveiled at the Phitayapat Building, STOU. This dedicated space showcases key research outputs, innovations, and insights contributed by participating scholars and institutions.

The poster gallery offers attendees an opportunity to explore diverse perspectives and engage with emerging ideas in the field of health and education.

Day 1 Morning Program | ICHP 2025

During the morning session of Day 1, Prof. Nur Atik, MD, PhD, Director for Research and Community Services at Universitas Padjadjaran, presented the conference rationale, providing context for the day’s discussions.

This was followed by a keynote address from Prof. Olga Riklikienė, PhD, Professor at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, who spoke on Sustainable Nursing Education Using Innovation and E-Conscious Strategies to Prepare Global Health Professionals.

Continuing the session, Prof. Sheila R. Bonito, DrPH, Dean of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Nursing, delivered Plenary Session 1 on Building Strong Leaders for Transformative Healthcare, emphasizing the critical role of investing in nursing education and leadership.

ICHP 2025 officially kicked off today!

The International Conference for Health Professionals (ICHP) 2025, themed “Innovative and Sustainable Health Practices Across Diverse Global Settings,” opened today, 18 November 2025, with participants joining onsite at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) in Thailand and online via Zoom.

During the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Taweewat Watthanakuljaroen, PhD, Acting President of STOU, delivered his opening message, emphasizing the importance of the discussions that will take place throughout the conference.

Assoc. Prof. Finaflor F. Taylan, DProfSt, RSW, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies, also gave her opening remarks. She highlighted that the joint leadership of the three partner universities reflects a strong commitment to collaborative action in advancing sustainable healthcare systems. She encouraged participants to reflect on the guiding truth that health is a right, not a privilege.

Prof. Joane V. Serrano, PhD, Chancellor of UP Open University, led the formal declaration of the opening of ICHP 2025. She reiterated that the conference, grounded in its theme, provides a space to reflect on and reimagine ways to build innovative and sustainable health systems.

The opening ceremony also featured an exchange of institutional gifts among the three partner universities: the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), and Universitas Padjadjaran (UnPad).